What does it mean when the book refers to the devil as the ruler of the universe and authorities?

Let’s look at a few verses that speak of Satan or his demons ruling over the universe and over authorities.

The Lord Jesus said of the devil (Satan) in John 12:31, “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the PRINCE OF THIS WORLD be cast out.”

Ephesians 2:2 says, “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE WORLD, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.”

2 Corinthians 4:3-4, “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

How did Satan get so much power that he would be called the “god of this world?” Is Satan a god? No, he’s not, but he is worshipped by a world that rejects the rightful God. Some will be vocal and declare boldly that they are Satan worshippers. Others would never say such a thing, yet they follow after him and are greatly influenced by his ideas, his attitude and rebellion against God, and by the liberal acceptance of the things that unsaved men declare to be true.

We need to be aware that idol worship is Satan worship; worship of false gods is Satan worship; worship of self is Satan worship; love of the world is Satan worship. Literally, anything that would distract and draw away our hearts away from the Lord is Satan worship, for all these things play right into his plans to dishonor the Lord. We see this first displayed way back in the Garden of Eden when Eve believed the word of Satan over the word of God. The Lord said in Genesis 2:16-17, “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Satan said in Genesis 3:4, “Ye shall not surely die.” Eve, and then Adam, ate of that forbidden fruit. They disobeyed God by obeying Satan. People still do that every day.

What will become of this so-called god? We read in Revelation 20:10, “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” Satan is no match for the one true God. When the appropriate time arrives, the Lord will cast him into Hell where we will be tormented for eternity because of who he is and what he has done. We know that he is not in Hell now. Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” 1 Peter 5:8 tells us that, “your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” On the land and in the air, we see that Satan is there to oppose God and to influence the world. Is Satan stronger than the Christian? Yes, he is. However, he is not stronger that the Holy Spirit who indwells every believer. 1 John 4:4 tell us, “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” May we learn to walk in the power of the Spirit so that we might overcome the temptations and influence of the “god of this world.” (247.6)